On this day VVS Laxman etched his name in history with his monumental 281

Arguably the best knock ever played in the history of Test cricket keeping the circumstances in mind. After the 281 run innings, VVS Laxman got the moniker of ‘Very Very Special’ from various cricket experts and critics who declared him a player of a rare breed and immense ability who could perform under pressure irrespective of how severe the situation was.

On 14th March 2001, Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman pulled off one of the most iconic acts in cricket’s most pure form which etched his name into the record books for eternity. After winning the first Test, Australia was on a rampage in the second match in Kolkata and enforced the follow-on on the hosts. Aussies secured a comfortable 274 run lead after bundling out Sourav Ganguly’s men for a paltry 171 in 1st innings.

Team India was down and out but as they say in cricket “it is not over until the last ball is bowled”.

After losing their openers, Ganguly came up with an ace and sent the Hyderabadi cricketer (Laxman) at No. 3. What followed after that is history, Laxman came up with a gladiator-like performance which not only broke the norms of cricket but also rewrote them with his wielding willow at the Eden Gardens. Along with Rahul Dravid, he put on a mammoth 376 run-stand for the fifth wicket and gave Australia a target of 384 to chase in the final innings.

Harbhajan Singh weaved another magical web around Aussies with his off-spin and picked up six wickets to script one of the most historic wins in India’s rich cricketing history.

But, it was Laxman's special which stole the limelight from the series and his 281 run knock became the ‘Greatest Test Innings’ by an Indian cricketer in Test match cricket.